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Brave Renée-Mai Bolter has been named Child of Courage at tonight's Pride of Britain Awards, after protecting her family during a terrifying eight-hour hostage ordeal.

Renée-Mai put herself in danger and showed incredible bravery, calm and presence of mind when a violent attacker took her family hostage.

She was handed the award by X Factor stars Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Louis Walsh, Dermot O'Leary and Sarah-Jane Crawford at the glittering Pride of Britain Awards ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Attacker Leonard Brown had developed an obsession with Renée-Mai's mother, and had been doing odd jobs for the family.

When he saw other people doing gardening work at the house, he flew into a rage.

Renée-Mai bravely shielded both her mum and sister from his fists, and secreted her mum's mobile phone under her clothes - which was later used to call the police. Brown was jailed for 14 years in December 2012 for the attack.

The audience was shown a terrifying reconsutruction of the day Renee-Mai and her family were taken hostage in their own home.

Her mum said if Renee hadn't grabbed the phone, "we'd have been dead. I'm so proud of her."

Renee, wearing a pretty pink dress with flowers in her hair, came on to the stage with her grandma.

Her mum looked on from the audience with tears in her eyes.

Renee said she was excited to see Cheryl, Simon and Louis in the crowd - and the judges then come on stage to present Renee with her award.

Dermot O'Leary said they were "overwhelmed by her heroism", while Cowell said "we think you are the bravest person in the world".

Don’t miss the most moving awards show of the year: ITV, 8pm, Tuesday 7 October